2018 Toyota Highlander Body & Structure Problems

On 11/22/2025, We were done shopping and when we tried to open the trunk it made weird squeaky sounds and we tried to close it but it suddenly self destructed. There was a loud noise and it shattered instantly and there was glass everywhere.

2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN PARKING LOT UNTOUCHED ( WARM SUNNY DAY) . VEHICLE WAS PARKED . OWNER USED THE REMOTE HATCH OPENING BUTTON ON THE KEY REMOTE. WHEN THE HATCH/ LIFT GATE STARTED OPENING A LOUD CRACKING / BUSTING SOUND WAS MADE. THE SPOILER WAS SEPARATING ON THE SIDES FROM THE HATCH AS WELL. UPON INSPECTION, THE INSIDE PLASTIC HATCH COMPONENT HOLDING THE GLASS WINDOW WAS CRACKED IN 2 PLACES AND THE METAL PIECE INSIDE HATCH WAS BENT. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE HATCH / LIFT GATE IS SUPPOSE TO SEPARATE HOWEVER HATCH WAS RUBBING UP AGAINST THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RISK , THE SPOILER LOCATED ON THE BACK OF VEHICLE ATTACHED TO THE HATCH , BECAME DETACHED FROM ITS MOUNTED POSITION. THIS CAUSED THE SPOILER TO SEPARATE AND OBSTRUCT THE HATCH LIFT GATE. SPOILER LOCATED ON BACK IS CAUSING THE LIFT GATE TO NOT OPEN AND WHEN OWNER OPENS THE HATCH THE DETACHED SPOILER WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO HATCH /LIFT GATE.

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Highlander equipped with a tow package. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle in for service, he made the dealer aware that on the passenger’s side rear of the vehicle where the muffler tip came out from underneath the vehicle that the plastic piece above the muffler was melted from exhaust heat coming from the muffler while towing his trailer. The dealer documented the incident and forwarded the findings to the manufacturer. The contact did not receive a callback, so he contacted the dealer and was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty and therefore there was nothing to pursue. The contact was concerned that there would be severe damage done to the bumper and wiring harness from the exhaust heat. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was still awaiting a response from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. The VIN was not available.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAULING A 2019 WINNEBAGO TRAVEL TRAILER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE CRACK ON THE TRAILER HITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRENT BROWN TOYOTA (1400 SANDHILL RD, OREM, UT 84058) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE CRACK TO THE HITCH ON THE TOYOTA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000. THE TRAILER MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE, SLOWLY, WITH RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, GETTING READY TO STOP BEFORE THE CURB, THE CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB GOING OVER THE SIDEWALK AND HIT THE BUILDING. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE WHEN IT STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED IN A DOCTORS OFFICE PARKING LOT. AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE.

JANUARY 22, 2019 WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED IN MY CAR. SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN WHEN OFF AND THE PRESSURE I FELT IN MY BACK, I THOUGHT I GOT SHOT. GLASS TOTALLY BLEW OUT OF THE CAR WITH ONLY A COUPLE INCHES LEFT AROUND THE SIDES. NO ROCKS OR ANYTHING HIT IT. FILED A POLICE REPORT.

I PURCHASED BRAND NEW TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2018 ON OCT. 20, 2018 BUT THE RATTLE (CLICKING) NOISE FROM PASSENGER DOOR SIDE (B-PILLAR). I CAN HEAR THE NOISE MOSTLY WHILE I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I DO NOT HAVE ANY CRASH AND ACCIDENT.

I PURCHASED A NEW TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FROM MASSEY TOYOTA IN KINSTON, NC IN MAY OF 2018. ON AUGUST 11, 2018, THE REAR HATCH GLASS SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED AND FELL OUT OF THE CAR WHILE IT WAS SITTING UNTOUCHED IN THE DRIVEWAY OF THE OWNERS HOME. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND WARM. TOYOTA INITIALLY REFUSED TO COVER THIS UNDER THE TOYOTA NEW CAR WARRANTY, HOWEVER FINALLY THEY AGREED TO COVER THE WINDOW. A FEW DAYS LATER MY WIFE STARTED NOTICING A SQUEAK AND RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK HATCH WHEN THE CAR WAS WAS WARM FROM THE SUN. AFTER TAKING THE CAR BACK NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE DEALER. THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT DISCOVERED THAT THE BACK HATCH/BACK DOOR WAS RUBBING NEAR THE SPOILER AREA OF THE HING, AT SUCH A FORCE TO CAUSE PAINT TO COME OFF THE AREA. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND THAT TOYOTA WAS REQUIRED TO COVER THIS NEW CAR DEFECT. HOWEVER, AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR 2 WEEKS TOYOTA REFUSED TO COVER THE MANUFACTURE DEFECT. IN CONCLUSION, THE 2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER MODEL HAS A DEFECT THAT RESULTS IN THE BACK REAR DOOR & SPOILER TO RUB AND RESULTS IN THE BACK HATCH GLASS BREAKING AND EVEN FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE PAINT AND BODY OF THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA HAS SHOWN A THEY CAN NOT BE TRUSTED TO FULFILL THEIR OBLIGATION TO NEW CAR CUSTOMERS.